Many writers bring a book to social events. After all, why would you strike up a conversation with a stranger when you could be reading Harry Potter for the sixteenth time? However, if the social event in question is a writing event (such as WIFYR, where many of the Hot Mess writers met) and you’re looking for a critique group, the book habit doesn’t serve you. After all, how will you find a group if you don’t talk to other writers? Finding and navigating a critique group can be scary, especially for introverts, but it doesn’t have to be. If you know how to make critique groups work for you, they can be fun and fulfilling—even invaluable.
Find The Right Critique Group
To begin, you might not be sure what you’re looking for in a critique group, and even once you decide, it may take a few false starts to find your dream group. When I was fresh out of college and no longer had the benefit of in-class critiques, I got in touch with a few people from my most recent writing class, and we started a critique group. While my partners were great writers, we discovered that our schedules didn’t line up and our critique needs were different, and I can’t even remember if we officially disbanded or just drifted apart.
A few years later, it was lunchtime at WIFYR, and I was torn. I’d normally find a corner and read, but I’d made a goal to be more social at WIFYR, so I pushed myself to sit with a group of people and chat instead. I didn’t expect anything to come from it, but later I overhead the wonderful Tracy Daley talking about her critique partners and, in a burst of courage and questionable manners, interrupted to say that if their group had space, I was interested. A week later, I was in the Hot Mess Writers Group, and I’ve been there ever since.
Make Friends with Your Critique Group
This may sound obvious, but one of the keys to making your critique group work is making friends with the members. I’ve been a member of the Hot Mess Writers Group for several years, but until 2021, the only member I’d met in person was Tracy. The other group members were scattered across North America, and my only contact with them was emailing critiques back and forth. I appreciated the critiques during that time period, but occasionally I’d think, Ouch! That was harsh! It’s hard to convey tone in a Word comment, and since I didn’t know the people who left the comments, it was easy for insecurity to creep in and interpret people’s intent in negative ways.
That all changed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the Hot Mess Writers Club got on Marco Polo. Suddenly, I knew what my critique partners wore to the gym, which house project they were working on, and which of their kids had a cold. Through video messages and the occasional meetup, my critique group has become some of my best friends. Now, when we give each other feedback, I don’t worry about how their comments are worded because I’m friends with the people behind the comments, and I know they want the best for me and my manuscript.
Be Flexible with Critique Group Needs
How critique groups work can change over time, so be flexible and recognize what both you and your group need. For years, my group submitted to each other every other week and returned critiques on the off weeks. Our word count was relatively low, which was necessary with several group members, and it allowed us to dive deep on the sections we were editing. Regular submission deadlines created accountability for members who wanted to write but didn’t have much time.
At one point, I began writing a new story and realized I didn’t want it critiqued as I went, so I stepped out of the submission flow for a while. When I had a full draft, the group discussed and agreed to do a round of full manuscript critiques. Each month, one group member sent their entire manuscript to all of us, and then we met up on a Zoom call and talked about it. My feedback session was invaluable as I prepared to revise my rough draft, and I loved reading and critiquing everyone else’s full manuscripts. Being flexible with how we run our group has made it thrive despite our changing needs.
If you have tips on how to make critique groups work for you, I’d love to hear them in the comments!
Patrice Carey Hale writes YA romance and romance fantasy novels that feature banter, adventure, and all the good feelings leading up to a first kiss. She holds a BA in English and editing and is a member of the Hot Mess Writers Club, a critique group for YA and MG.
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